In various aspects, the processes disclosed herein may include the steps of inducing an electric field about a non-conductive substrate, and depositing functionalized nanoparticles upon the non-conductive substrate by contacting a nanoparticle dispersion with the non-conductive substrate, the nanoparticle dispersion comprising functionalized nanoparticles having an electrical charge, the electric field drawing the functionalized nanoparticles to the non-conductive substrate. In various aspects, the related composition of matter disclosed herein comprise functionalized nanoparticles bonded to a surface of a non-conductive fiber, the surface of the non-conductive fiber comprising a sizing adhered to the surface of the non-conductive fiber. This Abstract is presented to meet requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b) only. This Abstract is not intended to identify key elements of the processes, and related apparatus and compositions of matter disclosed herein or to delineate the scope thereof.

A bend sensor comprising a sensor section in which a polymer electrolyte film is sandwiched between a pair of electrode films, wherein each of the electrode films contains: a block copolymer (Z) having a polymer block (S) composed of a structural unit derived from an aromatic vinyl compound, and containing an ion-conducting group, and an amorphous polymer block (T) composed of a structural unit derived from an unsaturated aliphatic hydrocarbon; and a conducting particle; which block copolymer (Z) forms a lamellar structure, which bend sensor therefore allows generation of enhanced voltage between the electrode films when deformation of the sensor occurs as it follows movement of an object, is provided.

An autothrottle for an aircraft that includes a power-control input (PCL) manually movable by a pilot along a travel path to effect a throttle setting that controls engine power of the aircraft. The autothrottle determines a control-target setting for a throttle of the aircraft and dynamically adjusts the throttle according to the control-target setting, including moving the PCL to achieve the control-target setting. A virtual detent is set and dynamically adjusted at positions along a travel path of the PCL corresponding to the control-target setting. The virtual detent is operative, at least when the autothrottle is in a disengaged state for autothrottle control, to indicate the control-target setting to the pilot via a haptic effect that applies a detent force opposing motion of the PCL in response to the PCL achieving the position of the virtual detent.

An autothrottle for an aircraft that includes a power-control input (PCL) manually movable by a pilot along a travel path to effect a throttle setting that controls engine power of the aircraft. The autothrottle determines a control-target setting for a throttle of the aircraft and dynamically adjusts the throttle according to the control-target setting, including moving the PCL to achieve the control-target setting. A virtual detent is set and dynamically adjusted at positions along a travel path of the PCL corresponding to the control-target setting. The virtual detent is operative, at least when the autothrottle is in a disengaged state for autothrottle control, to indicate the control-target setting to the pilot via a haptic effect that applies a detent force opposing motion of the PCL in response to the PCL achieving the position of the virtual detent.

In various aspects, the sensors include a substrate that is porous and non-conductive with nanoparticles deposited onto the substrate within pores of the substrate by an electrophoretic process to form a sensor element. The nanoparticles are electrically conductive. The sensor includes a detector in communication with the sensor element to measure a change in an electrical property of the sensor element. The change in the electrical property may result from alterations in quantum tunneling between nanoparticles within the sensor element, in various aspects.

The present disclosure is to provide a vibration damping steel sheet having improved vibration damping performance. Provided according to the present disclosure are: a surface treatment composition for a vibration damping steel sheet, comprising a polymer resin and inorganic nano particles having a mean aspect ratio (L/D) of 100 or more; and a vibration damping steel sheet surface-treated with the composition.

A fluororubber composition comprising 3 to 20 parts by weight of carbon fibers and 1 to 8 parts by weight of carbon nanotubes based on 100 parts by weight of fluororubber. The crosslinked molded article obtained from the fluororubber composition has excellent effects of not only imparting oil film retention, but also improving the material strength of fluororubber due to the combined use of carbon nanotubes, which have high reinforcing properties. Further, the fluororubber composition can give a fluororubber crosslinked product excellent in abrasion resistance and pressure resistance.

A fluororubber composition comprising 3 to 20 parts by weight of carbon fibers and 1 to 8 parts by weight of carbon nanotubes based on 100 parts by weight of fluororubber. The crosslinked molded article obtained from the fluororubber composition has excellent effects of not only imparting oil film retention, but also improving the material strength of fluororubber due to the combined use of carbon nanotubes, which have high reinforcing properties. Further, the fluororubber composition can give a fluororubber crosslinked product excellent in abrasion resistance and pressure resistance.

The present disclosure is related to the field of polymer processing, and, in particular, to a vinyl-modified nanofiller interfacial compatibilizer and a method for producing a compatibilized polymer blend. Vinyl-modified nanofillers can be used together with an initiator as a compatibilizer for polymer blends. The initiator can initiate a free radical reaction between the chains of the polymers in the blend and the vinyl groups on the surface of the vinyl-modified nanofiller, leading to in situ formation of a co-crosslinked polymer and thus compatibilization of the blend as well as improved tensile strength and modulus thereof. Results of examples showed that vinylsilane grafted onto the surface of the vinyl-modified nanofiller makes it possible for the nanofiller to be used as an effective compatibilizer. The vinyl-modified nanofillers can be used as a compatibilizer for various polymer blends systems.

A method and resins for use with three-dimensional printing systems and/or other energy-curing devices to create 3-D objects having electrical conductivity. The resins comprise an initiator, a photopolymerizable agent, and a nanocarbon, particularly, single-walled carbon nanotubes. The initiator, photopolymerizable agent, and nanocarbon are mixed and agitated without fully solubilizing the nanocarbon so as to maintain the electrically conductive property.